~♫~ Nancy Lorenz ~♫~

LULZ WHAT.

Biden's expression when she popped out the Marxism question is priceless. And Sweden? Seriously?

Life expectancy: Sweden, 8th (and Australia 9th, sweet!), USA, 45th

Environmental Performance Index: Sweden, 3rd, USA... hang on, this list only shows the top thirty... 39th

Global Peace Index: Sweden, 13th, USA, 97th

Press Freedom Index: Sweden, equal 7th, USA, equal 36th

Freedom from Corruption Index: Sweden, 4th, USA, 20th

Quality of Life Index: Sweden, 5th, USA, 13th (Australia, 6th!)

Infant Mortality: Sweden, 192nd, USA, 163rd (that's highest - the US has a higher infant mortality rate)

Firearm-related deaths: Sweden, 2.36, USA, 10.0 (I'm not really sure what they're ranking here, but the US has the highest firearm-related death rate of any developed country)

...Alcohol consumption: Sweden, 69th, USA, 43rd. ...Australia 38th.

Whatever Sweden is doing, THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT.

Edited Date: 2008-10-27 04:09 am (UTC)

From:

greteldragon.livejournal.com

I have an irrational hatred of Sweden and a general hatred of stupid questions. THIS IS SO UNBELIEVABLY STUPID, I don't know which to be more angry at.

From:

sir-devans.livejournal.com

Hey. Sweden = Norse. Norse = Vikings. Vikings = Mercenaries.
Be afraid, be very afraid. :P

From:

... What?! Biden totally kicked ass! "Is that a serious question?!" Oh my GOD, the media is fucked!!

Man, Kerry O'Brien is a revelation. He's too good for the US Media.

From:

I know!!! Oh God, my country is full of alcoholics. *embarrased head-desk* Well, it's either getting badly pissed or guns, I suppose. I'd rather put up with friendly drunks any day.

From:

I guess you don't visit Ikea too often then? lol!

Yeah, it's painfully stupid.

From:

Well, since my Gunnie forebears were apparently Vikings, I don't have much to be scared of. LOL! Other than Ragnarok. *laughs*

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I dunno, some of the drunken morons on George Street on a Saturday night (for Good News Week tapings) are pretty scary o.O

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Being from Perth, I've never witnessed that, thank God. Though we have some pretty obnoxious jerks here too.

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Yeah... bugger it, it's worth it for the tapings XD (Do you watch GNW?)

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I did when it was before a show Dad liked to watch. It's hilarious!

From:

http://users.livejournal.com/lothar_/

But Sweden = taxes, and taxes = less money for liquor, bullets, and SUVs that get 6k/litre. We've got to have money if we Americans want to keep our spots on the list.

From:

Keep watching it! It's still hilarious!

From:

shantari.livejournal.com

Marijuana? I don't think that's legal here in Sweden... But yes on the saunas, although in difference from our sisternation of Finland we call them "Bastu".

Sweden is politically more to the left than most of western democratic nations and definately more to the left than the US, but the day we're a red terror... lol. At the most we could forseeably become a communist dictatorship, but our record streak of non-involvement in wars have left us too soft-bellied to be a threat to anyone. And it's at the most that we could be a dictatorship, since we have more guarantees in order for democracy than the US as of yet.

(Technically, the Vikings are responsible for most of our modern day definitions and regulations for democracy, such as the two-thirds-majority. The Swedish kings were elected up until Gustav Wasa took the throne and made the crown an heirloom. Also before Christian influences, most of Scandinavia were matriarchal, noticable in that the older word for king "konung" presumably is derived from "konans man" or the "husband of the woman". To this day Sweden and Finland (which used to be a part of Sweden for a millenia before becoming an independent republic in the early 20th century) are among the furtest when it comes gender equality. The first female president of the entire world, was a Finnish president.)

Sweden is a bit too left in some matters for my taste. Such as praising government controlled monopolies when the early leftist movements of Sweden used to sing that "monopoly, monopoly, is the capitalists goal", which really feels a bit galling to me.

Now, as you probably noticed, I'm a right winger by Swedish standards. XD Which means I'm a lefty by American standards, something I've learned from my discussing politics on the internet. In general I wish that my people could stop asking that every aspect of their lives be handled by the government (RAISE YOUR OWN DAMN KIDS, STOP BLAMING THE TEACHERS FOR NOT GETTING THEM TO LISTEN AT SCHOOL!) but at the same time I'm glad over our view on healthcare and education, which allows for fewer differences between classes on matters of longevity and intellect. It's not a equal utopia, but it allows for people who want to become a doctor to realise that they can if they study hard, and not think "I can't because my family isn't rich".

Sometimes it's just impossible for me to leave a short comment. :P

From:

Oh dude, it's a great comment! I found it highly enlightening, I love learning about other countries, especially somewhere as cool as Sweden! I must have gotten mixed up on the dope thing. Oh well.

I think Sweden has gotten most things right, I mean, it's a system that seems to be working well enough. As someone that can't work for a living due to illness, universal health care has been a godsend to me. I hate to think about all the people in America that don't have access to basic healthcare - it's like a third world thing to me, it's madness. It shouldn't be happening in such a rich country. (It happens here too with our Aboriginal communities, and I get hopping mad about that, too).

Anyway, rock on, comrade! Let's shake up the free world!

From:

shantari.livejournal.com

I've seen the vid now, and omg I laughed so hard! I just loved Biden's facial expression when the reporter went back to her "spreading the welfare" question.

In most times she'd technically be right in refering to Sweden as socialist, since our biggest single party is the Social Democrats. (Their fomer leader, now resigned, is in my icon.) But we are having one of our rare occurances of a right wing government, namely the alliance of the Moderates, the Centreparty, the Christian Democrats and the People's party of Liberals. With the leading party of the right wing being the Moderates, I'd say Sweden is currently more moderate than socialist. ^^ Although we're pretty much guaranteed to go back to a Social Democratic ruling in two years when we have our next election. There hasn't been anyone besides the Social Democrats to have more than one mandate period of being in charge, and just like the last time there was a right wing government Sweden is in the middle of a economic crisis.

We do have a communist party. First there was VPK, VänsterPartiet Kommunisterna, the Left party the Communists. Then they split up in the Left party and the Communistparty. Although to my knowledge there is still to this day a fair ammount of communist sympathisers in the Left party. And people who "wears Che Guevara t-shirts without knowledge of Cuba's modern history", and in general thinks capitalists are evil people with top hats.

I think most extreme views tend towards idiocy, regardless of the direction. Because once you start on the slippery slope of thinking something can never be too much, you come dangerously close to obsession and fanaticism, which leads to closed minds. I'd rather see a person with a empty and open box, than one that is closed tight with locks on the inside that no one can reach. Personally I hold no absolute truth... (Okay one, but it is universal that Batman kicks ass.)

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Interesting, what do you hate the most? Hope that wasn't a stupid question, cause I can't imagine your reaction of a Swede asking a stupid question then XD

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Since I'm the one who told you a lot of those things, maybe I should expand a bit :p.
Vikings:
At the viking era, the borders between the scandinavian countries weren't as rigid as now and they spoke the same language (now we essentially speak the same language, I have more trouble with some Swedish dialects than Norwegian XD) but a great deal of the British isles we're facing mass immigration from mostly Danes in the south and Norwegians in the north. Most British and Irish harbor cities are founded by vikings. They came to greatly influence the way the British isles where ruled, but of course there where troubles. Robin Hood is based on the uproar against the high Danish taxes, the "Danegeld" - Danish gold.

Ever wonder why most western countries swear oaths to tell the truth in court? Not so many calls for oaths otherwise. Its because most western countries have based their court system on the British who got theirs from... the vikings. Its therefore we have jury's of the people, the vikings where very "socialist" in that all free people should have a say, and oaths where very prominent. As for gender equality, some more points: I think it was a roman explorer traveling through Scandinavia that commented that in some kingdoms "let themselves be ruled by a woman". An Arabic soldier was very surprised after fending of a viking raid to find that many of the fallen viking warriors where women.

Although we've had peace for the latest 200 years, this is much due to our violent history. Hitler was afraid to attack us since during the 30-year war Sweden conquered large parts of Germany and countries around the Baltic sea (during our grandest time the Baltic sea was completely surrounded by Sweden), so much that the Catholic countries (it was mostly a religious pre-emptive war between Catholic dominated countries and protestant Sweden) was contemplating to make our king of the time, Gustav II Adolf, "Emperor of Europe". But even then, our mercantile history made itself known, only a fraction of the Swedish army was Swedish. Most where Scottish, German, Polish etc. mercenaries. Many Germans actually saw the Swedish army as saviors since the northern part of Germany (which wasn't a united country at this time, one reason to the Swedish success) was very strongly protestant, but many Catholics welcomed them as well since Gustav II Adolf didn't force protestantism, but rather forced a co-existence.

But the further south the less welcome they became, and when coming close to Rome (the heart of the Catholic empire) locals where close to fanatics, believing the Swedes to be demonic legions rather than human, attacking their "tross" (the civilian part of a moving army during this time, where the soldiers family, chefs, merchants etc. traveled) and causing great casualties. After the Swedish army replied by burning entire villages and putting all inhabitants (including infants) on stakes they definitely weren't seen as saviors...

The reason Sweden could wreak such havoc in the center of Europe (and gather the largest collection in all of Europe of captured enemy banners, still available to see in Stockholm) was that they we're not seen as invaders by all, but to many as liberators. Remember that nationalism at this time was very new, a peasant of this time would support anyone who forced him to pay as little as possible in taxes and let him go about his own damn business as much as possible. But it sure helped that the Swedish army was the most modern in all Europe. We had the highest percentage of gunpowder-units and cavalry of all armies of the time (we early realized that it was ranged fire and mobility that was the future) and also early gained a rumor of supremacy that we used to as much advantage as possible.

From:

The Finnish "Hakkapellita" (literally meaning "chop their heads of"), who where little more than Finnish farmer-boys with scythes, axes and bird-rifles won decisive victories early against heavily armored German Knights among others, making them so feared that many enemy captains ordered retreat as soon as they heard the enemy captain shouting commands in Finnish. Also the first news-paper in Europe was made before the world, helping to early spread propaganda about the coming war. Biblical references where used to show of a great army coming from the north, breaking all opposition.

Another aspect of the modernity, besides having a great deal of gun-powder-units. The Swedish cannons where of superior quality, since they had managed to make them smaller. German cannons where huge, having to be moved by at least 2 horses or sometimes more animals, while Swedish cannons could be moved by 3 men easily. This meant they could relocate during the battle. Also, many new tactics where introduced. Pistoleers-cavaliers (mounted soldiers with guns more or less) usually rode in pairs on a long line, the first 2 shooting their gun, then riding in a great circle to the back while the new first did the same. What the Swedes did was instead all ride on a long line, fire their pistols, then draw sabers and charge right in! Swedish infantry units where also a lot smaller than standard at the time. Standard for the rest of Europe was a couple of thousands in each regiment, while the Swedes had more like a couple of hundreds. The disadvantage in the great numbers was that once you have ordered a couple of thousand soldiers to move forward, its very difficult to make them do anything else, sometimes leaving you no choice but to see them march to their doom. With their smaller regiments (but more regiments) the Swedish infantry could quickly order retreats, regroups, change of targets etc. Also, the class difference was not as prominent. Soldiers in the Swedish army where encouraged to think themselves and make decisions to a degree. It even happened that incompetent captains and commanders making tactically utterly stupid decisions where killed by their own men and the second in command making a better decision. But one of the key reasons for the success I believe was Gustav II Adolf himself. He managed to inspire his men much better than most enemies, in great part because he was inspiring, very socially adept an chivalrous. He avoided unnecessary bloodshed by having very strict military rules like not allowing his men to loot churches and such, making the soldiers feel more "justified" in their actions, but above all, he led from the front. He was usually at the front line leading the cavalry charge himself, which makes it much easier to follow yourself than if a person behind you tries to push you forward against danger.

It was this forwardness that became his doom. He was close to death many times, having cannon balls strike down at his feet and such but at the battle of Lützen he was killed by the enemy. Historians now believe he saw one of the flanks giving in to enemy pressure and reacted faster than his command stab and rode himself. The trouble was that he was very nearsighted and there was a great fog this day, leaving him lost in the fog. He ended up surrounded by enemies and cut down.

He, my sister asked me to "help her out a bit" (nah she didn't really, but still :)) and I kinda just went on, hope y'all still awake :p. Its dangerous to have a friend and his GF both being history-nerds and staying close to them ;)

From:

shantari.livejournal.com

Myh!

(So, anyway,

twgcm is my infamous older brother. I do believe I have mentioned him a couple of times. He's finally using his livejournal.)

From:

This is livejournal you're always peskering me about?! YA USED ME SKINNER! YA USED ME!!

From:

Since it's very early in the morning, I probably won't read that huge block of text till my morning coffee has kicked in, but when it does, I shall find it very interesting indeed.

And did you just quote X-Files?

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